TABOO in Somalia, But Radio Sahan Dares To Speak

Women’s Program: One of the biggest challenges that young Somali girls/women in Puntland or perhaps in Somalia in general is about NOT talking about problems related to woman’s monthly menstrual cycle (menstruation). This is so TABOO that even mothers and their daughters cannot talk or discuss about monthly menstrual cycle. Many young girls suffer pain and psychological distress caused by problems associated with monthly period. In addition, most of Somali girls who went throughfemale genital mutilation (FGM) experience health risk as a result of FGM including: severe pain, excessive bleeding and many other problems, as drs. Jamilo pointed out. In Puntland, women are often very shy when going to see a doctor about issues with their menstrual cycles and the biggest problem that Somali girls/women are facing is that they are too afraid and too shy to get female health checks.

Radio Sahan is proud to be the first and the only media in Puntland that have provided for their listeners an informative and educational program on monthly menstrual cycle. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is big issue for Somali girls and woman as well. It causes health complication for them. Today’s program, Radio Sahan visited Garowe General Hospital and interviewed with Drs. Jamilo Jama Abdullahi who provided great knowledge on this issue and encouraged girls and women to visit to the hospital and see a doctor for checking.